..."and a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness; evil minded people shall not travel on it, but it shall be for those wayfarers who are traveling toward God. (Isaiah 35:8, adapted)

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Can a Nation Be Born in A Day? The Promise of Change: Are You Really Ready?

Forty years ago today, June 8, 1967, Israel wonthe 6-Day War. I was nine years old, not interestedin politics or religion, but thought that 6 days wasnot a very long time for a war. Even then I knewthat certain things generally took a significantamount of time. So a six day war seemed unlikely, evento a nine year old. As an adult, defeating thearmies of Egypt and Jordan in six days, takingJerusalem, the Golan Heights, and the Sinaiseems equally unlikely, even to someonewho believes in miracles.

On May 14, 1948, the state of Israel reappears as anation in modern history. Isaiah asks, "Can a nationbe born in a day?" (Isaiah 66:8). "Of course not!" isthe human and expected answer. God promisedto make Israel a nation while it was still makingbricks in the slavery of Egypt (Gen. 15, Ex. 32:13).And when God makes a promise, He is well ableto keep it, no matter what it looks like. Thesame holds true for you.

With any birth there is a lot of waiting. Ninemonths of it. In our lives there can be a lotmore then nine months of waiting for somethingto be born. But then, when the baby is readyto come, he or she comes quickly and changesthings irrevocably! A nation was born in a day, butlook at all that had to proceed its momentof destiny!

It is often hard to wait for God to birthwhat He has ordained for you. It is a mysteriousprocess of waiting for Him, co-operating withHim, but not using your own strength tobring it forth. Pain in childbirth enteredthe world because we decided to take thingsinto our own hands and do what we feltwas best. Effortless birth, both physicaland spiritual, was God's original plan for us.

Now, due to the ravages of sin in the world,birth can be anything but effortless.Change can be a long time in coming. Thepromise of God can be delayed. A nationbeing born in a day can seem an impossiblethought. A six day war, in the light of ourown personal circumstances, and especiallyin light of our own nation's present conflict,can seem ridiculously short.

Press on. Be faithful. Things can appearlike they never will change, and then,Voila!, all is different. Eternal changecan happen in the blink of an eye. Indeed,it is promised to happen: ...."Behold I tell youa mystery: We shall not sleep but we shallall be changed--in a moment, in the twinklingof an eye, at the last trumpet. " (I Cor 15. 51-2).

Hmmm. Isn't that interesting? Eternal change in a moment!...WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED.We look around, like the people, describedby the apostle Peter, and say, "Where is He?things have been the same forever!"

"Knowing this first: that scoffers willcome in the last days, walking accordingto their own lusts, and saying, “Whereis the promise of His coming? For sincethe fathers fell asleep, all things continueas they were from the beginning of creation.”

For this they willfully forget: that by theword of God the heavens were of old, andthe earth standing out of water and inthe water, by which the world that thenexisted perished, being flooded withwater. But the heavens and the earthwhich are now preserved by the same word,are reserved for fire until the day ofjudgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, do not forget this onething, that with the Lord one day is asa thousand years, and a thousand yearsas one day. The Lord is not slackconcerning His promise, as some countslackness, but is longsuffering towardus, not willing that any should perishbut that all should come to repentance....

Therefore, beloved, lookingforward to these things, be diligent to befound by Him in peace, without spot andblameless; (2 Peter 3).

Change, slow to happen, will overtakeus so rapidly that there will be notime to prepare. Our time to prepareis now, and the Lord is giving us timebecause He does not wish us to perish.

Change, though slow to happen, willhappen. Does happen. Is sovereignlydestined to happen. This does notpertain solely to the return of theLord, but to the promise of Godbeing fulfilled in our hearts and lives.

His Promise is sure, although whatwe hope it to look like may bea bit different from what God hasin mind. Do be careful that youare not presuming, but be steadfastin your trust in God's good way foryou.

The Lord will be victorious inthe hearts of all those who allowHim to work His peaceable kingdomin them. Until then there is war,a war for your very soul. And awar for Israel. None of us, nationor individual, should rely onhuman strength, but on the armof the Almighty One. "Thosewho are with us, are morethen those against us."

Changes are coming. Irrevocableones. It is important that webe ready for them, so while youare waiting, take a look at yourheart and make sure you areprepared for the sudden change ofthe door of opportunity clangingshut with a bang. Do not lamentwhat appears to be delay. Laborfar into the night. It is you andI that God is waiting for.

A new nation, the kingdom ofGod's dear Son, will be born ina moment. The Lord will be victoriousin a moment, and will not even need sixdays, or even one.

Be steadfast. Change is ordained,at least until that day when all isperfect. Change, she be a'coming.

1 comment:

Great post, and it is so very true, often there seems to be nothing happening, but then there will be a sudden move of God in our lives. And then what came before seems to be totally over and impossible to relate to.Blessings in Him.